I don't want to write this post. I want it to exist, but I don't want to write it.
Last Thursday, July 26th, I was telling the ladies of my mom's group how lucky I was to have all four of my grandparents. 70 years of marriage on my mom's side, 66 years on my dad's side. Add to that the 43 years of my folks marriage and I have an incredible wealth of experience to call on about marriage and family.
My granddad was a neat old man. John Haworth, but everybody called him Howie. Well, I called him Granddad, but you know what I mean. I think he was the second or third generation named John who went by his middle name. My Uncle Mike is really John Michael, and his son is John Paul...but we call him Buddy. I'm getting off topic.
Granddad liked rocks. For my birthday one year, he mounted a piece of peacocke ore in a hexagon frame. Peacock ore looks like an oil slick made solid, all purples, blues, greens and golds. Purple has been my favorite color since I could pick it out of a line up, though I called it purkle for longer than anyone will let me live down. So, this rock...it was a perfect gift. He gave me the gift of purple in his own currency.
Some time after his 85th birthday, Granddad decided he needed a hobby. So, he took his love of rocks and decided to make jewelry. I have beautiful chunks of turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger's eye, all polished up and mounted as earrings and necklaces. Each one has his initials and the year carved on the back.
Granddad liked prime rib, shrimp cocktail, the color orange, trains, coins, and photography. I remember so many evenings sitting around with the family while Granddad clicked through the latest set of slides, telling stories from around the world.
The first greek letters I knew were Alpha Chi Sigma, Granddad's fraternity of chemists. (The second set was Gamma Phi Beta, for my mom's sorority.) His Lincoln Towncar had a vanity plate up front with those letters. I thought it spelled AXE.
Last Friday, July 27th, Granddad said goodbye to this world. He gave us so much beauty and wisdom. I hope Jesus had a big pile of rocks waiting for him.
Last Thursday, July 26th, I was telling the ladies of my mom's group how lucky I was to have all four of my grandparents. 70 years of marriage on my mom's side, 66 years on my dad's side. Add to that the 43 years of my folks marriage and I have an incredible wealth of experience to call on about marriage and family.
My granddad was a neat old man. John Haworth, but everybody called him Howie. Well, I called him Granddad, but you know what I mean. I think he was the second or third generation named John who went by his middle name. My Uncle Mike is really John Michael, and his son is John Paul...but we call him Buddy. I'm getting off topic.
Granddad liked rocks. For my birthday one year, he mounted a piece of peacocke ore in a hexagon frame. Peacock ore looks like an oil slick made solid, all purples, blues, greens and golds. Purple has been my favorite color since I could pick it out of a line up, though I called it purkle for longer than anyone will let me live down. So, this rock...it was a perfect gift. He gave me the gift of purple in his own currency.
Some time after his 85th birthday, Granddad decided he needed a hobby. So, he took his love of rocks and decided to make jewelry. I have beautiful chunks of turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, tiger's eye, all polished up and mounted as earrings and necklaces. Each one has his initials and the year carved on the back.
Granddad liked prime rib, shrimp cocktail, the color orange, trains, coins, and photography. I remember so many evenings sitting around with the family while Granddad clicked through the latest set of slides, telling stories from around the world.
The first greek letters I knew were Alpha Chi Sigma, Granddad's fraternity of chemists. (The second set was Gamma Phi Beta, for my mom's sorority.) His Lincoln Towncar had a vanity plate up front with those letters. I thought it spelled AXE.
10 comments:
Oh Linnea...I'm not sure how I missed this, and I'm so sorry I did. As you know, I feel your pain. If you need to talk, feel free to send thoughts my way. Hugs!
I'm so sorry for your loss =(! It sounds like he was a wonderful man!
I'm so sorry. So lucky to have had him for so long, and to be able to wear jewelry he made.
Yeah, he is probably having a blast with all those rocks right now! I called him Dad all his life and there are are pile of stories about rocks left to tell........
Thanks for summing up and sharing your thoughts.
Love from Randegg, Germany,
John Michael a.k.a Uncle Mike
I'm so sorry. He sounds like wonderful grandfather (and father and husband). I'm glad you got to have pictures of him with Eleanor. I love the pictures in my baby book of great-grandparents I never really knew holding me.
Oh, Linnea, I'm so sorry. I love the rock stories, what a cool hobby to get into late in life. I am glad you have so many physical things to remember him by, in addition to the memories. xo
I'm sorry for your loss. I love the picture of him with Eleanor.
Oh I'm sorry to hear that Linnea. Take care.
This is such a sweet tribute. I'm praying for you and your family. Call me if you need anything!
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man.
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